There is new talk about the recommended vehicle maintenance when it comes to how often you should get an oil change for your car or truck. With the choice between regular oil and synthetic oil, we have a whole new set of rules.
Recommended Vehicle Maintenance
For oil changes we’ve always heard the recommended vehicle maintenance timeline was 3,000 miles. It was standard and nobody ever questioned it, because that is what the mechanic always said. There were many threats of engine destruction if you were late on the 3,000 mile cut off. Now we are asking, “Hey, did all you mechanics con me?”
They did and they didn’t. Certainly, 3,000 mile oil changes will keep your oil wonderfully clean and the engine will love it. The issue is that the oil change guy receives more benefits from this than your engine. The recommended oil change time period has been more like 7,000 miles all of this time.
Changing your oil every 7,000 miles is for those who have an easy drive almost all of the time. The roads are paved and you’re rarely on a dirt road. There isn’t constant starting and stopping and you use the motor oil that the manufacturer lists in your manual.
There are some, however, that do need to change their oil every 3,000 miles. Those people are out driving on the farm, on dirt roads or stuck in traffic all day, every day.
10,000 Mile Oil Changes
You can kick that time interval between oil changes to 10,000 – 15,000 miles between changes (depending upon the manufacturer of your car). This is done with synthetic oil. The next time you get a new car, switch to synthetic motor oil and you’ll have to change it a lot less often!
